Spotlight On... Pain drug maker Teva uses humor in latest addiction-awareness effort; Eisai teams up on new GI-focused specialty pharma; Acadia's Nuplazid nabs FDA panel backing; and more...

Eschewing the usual grim approach to anti-opioid abuse ads, Teva ($TEVA) is going for absurd humor in its new awareness effort. The Israel-based company--which sells two fentanyl-based painkillers, Actiq and Fentora--rolled out a three-part video series as part of its Pain Matters campaign. Report

@FiercePharma: Aduro, UC Berkeley team up in $7.5M immunotherapy and vaccine initiative. FierceVaccines story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: Construction begins on Novo Nordisk's first US, API plant and first outside of Denmark. FiercePharmaManufacturing story | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: ICYMI: Shire scores a patent victory for Lialda, but Bass-spurred PTO review looms. Item | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> Japan-based Eisai says it's teaming up with Ajinomoto on a new gastrointestinal specialty pharma, EA Pharma. Report

> An FDA advisory panel backed Acadia Pharmaceuticals' ($ACAD) new Parkinson's disease drug Nuplazid for approval in a 12-2 vote. Report

> Lawmakers in Florida, the only remaining state that prohibits nurse practitioners from prescribing meds, passed a bill to grant them that power. Report

> Opko Health got a rejection letter from the FDA on its application for approval of its thyroid drug Rayaldee. Release

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: IYCMI: Theranos slammed again after new study points to testing flaws. Article | Follow @FierceMedDev

@EmilyWFierce: UPDATED: Astellas cancer med Xtandi draws fire as U.S. lawmakers demand a pricing hearing. FiercePharma story | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> CMS policy driving consensus around moderate use of Boston Scientific's Watchman: Survey. Story

Biotech News

@FierceBiotech: Pitt team redesigns an epilepsy drug, from FierceBiotechResearch. Item | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Sanofi-Genzyme helps cancer biotech ImmuneXcite close $8.6M financing round. News | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Aveo hit with $4M SEC fraud penalty, feds set out to bar former execs for deception. Article

> Newron faces further FDA delay for Parkinson's drug as regulator demands addiction evidence. Story

Biotech Research News

> TSRI/Salk collaboration finds two unique enzymes that may control diabetes and inflammation. Item

> Johns Hopkins scientists help explain why cancer stem cells survive in low oxygen. Report

> Gene targeting reverses cardiac fibrosis in heart-failure models. Story

> Two-stage nanoparticle smart bomb targets lung, breast cancer cells. More

> Stanford team boosts human cells' resistance to viruses with discarded GSK drug. Article

Vaccines News

> Sanofi Pasteur releases early results from next-gen flu vax tech. Story

> Aduro, UC Berkeley team up in $7.5M immunotherapy and vaccine initiative. More

> GSK planning combo vax launches in India, report says. Article

> DOD awards UC Irvine $8M to develop Q fever vaccine. News

Pharma Marketing News

> Keryx anemia med Auryxia trounces placebo in study aimed at big new use. News

> Brand matters: Interbrand's best in pharma ranks Pfizer, Roche and Merck at top. More

> WPP Group buys CMI healthcare and pharma media agency. Report

> Gilead meds face little threat from hep C rivals Merck, BMS and AbbVie: analyst. Story

> Teva goes for the absurd in latest opioid addiction video series. Article

And Finally... Genetic testing to choose drug therapies helps treatment work better, but has to be repeated with relapses to keep benefits coming. Report